A/45/PV.10 General Assembly

The Assembly will now hear an address by the President of the Republic of Maldives, His Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Mr, Maumoon Abdul Gavoom, President of the Republic of Maldives, was escorted _ { I into the General Assembly Hall. ,

On behalf of the General Assembly, 3 have the honour to I welcome to the United Nations the President of the Republic of Maldives, His t Excellency Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and to invite him to address the Assembly, President GAYOOM: I have much pleasure in extending to you, Sir, my warm congratulations and those of the members of the Maldives delegation on your election as President of the forty-fifth session of the General Assembly. We are confident that under your able guidance the deliberations of this session will ba concluded in a successful manner, I should also like to convey our sincere appreciation to your predecessor, Major-General Joseph Garba, for having done an excellent job in presiding over the Assembly during the past year. I note here with particular pleasure the significance of his visit to the Maldives earlier this year in spite of his very busy schedule, I wish to express my country's deep appreciation also to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier Perez de Cuellar, for his dedicated efforts to uphold the noble objectives of the United Nations. We wish him well in all his endeavours* On behalf of the Maldives, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the admission of Namibia to the United Nations, which it truly deserves after its long and hard-fought battle for independence. We are confident that independent Namibia will make a most positive contribution to the work of the Organization, I should also like to welcome our newest Member, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and. congratulate it on having gained the sovereign independent status it enjoys today. This year the Maldives is celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the attainment of full political independence. I do not, therefore, consider it irrelevant ot reflect a little on the achievements we have been able to make during the past 25 years. From the day we became an independent nation, we embarked on a determined path to overcome the triple menace of poverty, illiteracy and disease. With genuine hard work in the face of tremendous odds, the Maldives has been able to register significant strides in social and economic development. In education, we have now achieved a literacy level of over 95 per cent, and more than 80 per cent of our young children have access to schools. The improved standard of health is illustrated by the remarkable drop in the infant mortality rate from 120 per thousand live births in 1977 to 43 per thousand in 1989 and the rise in the .average life expectancy from 46.5 years in 1977 to 64 years in 1988. Economically, too, we have made very good progress. With planned investment in the important sectors of fisheries, tourism, transportation and telecommunications, our per capita income has become more than six times that of pre-independence levels, and we have maintained an economic growth rate of 10 per cent per annum for the past 10 years. I wish to express the deep gratitude of the people of the Maldives to all our development partners, the United Nations and its agencies for their generous support in realizing such encouraging results. The establishment of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation in 1985 opened new vistas of regional co-operation, reflecting the shared objectives of the South Asian nations. The Maldives is actively participating in the efforts to enhance peace, stability and security in our region. The Government and people of the Maldives are looking forward to the fifth meeting of the Heads of State or Government of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, to be held at Mali in November this year, to provide the opportunity to move ahead with our joint programmes aimed at enhancing the quality of life of the peoples of the seven nations. The Maldives has always endeavoured to contribute its modest share to the untiring efforts of the United Nations in promoting the principles of peace and international co-operation. In a world characterixed by tension and conflict, we firmly subscribe to the universally accepted principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of sovereign States by other States. Thus it is with deep concern that we view the current crisis in the Gulf region. We reiterate our firm conviction that there could be no justification for the violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of any State by another. Peace and stability cannot be achieved anywhere in the world unless we respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States. The Maldives urges the Iraqi Government to respond positively to the call of the Security Council and the international community to withdraw its troops from Kuwait immediately, allowing the people of Kuwait to restore normalcy in their country under the leadership of the legitimate Government of Kuwait, headed by the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-%&ah. We support all Security Council resolutions on the issue and call on Iraq to release all foreign nationals and to respect the immunity of the diplomatic missions in Kuwait. While we urge that a peaceful solution be found to the Gulf crisis, we reaffirm our commitment to giving our whole-hearted support to those who seek to eliminate the threat of war. We welcome the new, and indeed historic, trend seen in international relations today, a change which we hope will strengthen the principles of peace and peaceful coexistence. All those who advocate freedom and justice would salute with us the slow but unmistakable move by the super-Powers to reduce their nuclear-weapon arsenals, and the development of positive ties between the East and the West. The bringing down of the Berlin Wall and the imminent unification of Germany are clear examples of such positive developments. These provide the right setting for future efforts to strengthen peace and security in the world. We are, indeed, heartened by the recent successful achievements by the United Nations in this regard, The ending of the Iraq-Iran war, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and the attainment of independence by Namibia have brought us fresh hopes for universal peace. At this juncture let me reiterate our support for the unification of Korea through peaceful dialogue. Notwithstanding our support for that objective, however, let me also express OUT support for the Republic of Korea in its efforts to Seek membership in the United Nations. The Palestinians have been denied their legitimate right to self-determination for too long. The heroic intifadah carried out by the Palestinian people in the occupied territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is a courageous expression of the will and determination of the Palestinian people to regain their inalienable rights. The exodus of Soviet Jews has added to the already worsened situation. Israel continues to establish illegal settlements in the occupied territories. My country firmly believes that if peace is to be achieved in the Middle East a comprehensive solution to the Palestine question has to be found based on the right of the Palestinian people to independence and self-determination and to establish their homeland on their national soil. It is time that a more concerted universal effort is made to attain these objectives. In this context, we support the convening of an international conference for the settlement of the Palestinian question. The black people of South Africa are continuously being harassed by the white minority regime. mile congratulating the United Nations on its commendable efforts in exerting pressure towards the release of Nelson Mandela, we express our conviction that further pressure needs to be exercised on the minority regime if the international community rea1l.y wants to see the end of the suffering of the black people. Apartheid should be dismantled in its entirety. It is the responsibility of the United Nations and other international and regional organieations and indeed all Governments to work towards the elimination of racism, which we believe, is not only a crime against the black people of South Africa but a crime against humanity. Although the world may be prepared to reduce some of its more destructive weapons and the international. community may rejoice at the improving relations between the greater Powers of the world, for many small but sovereign States, like the Maldives, there exists a serious predicament to which a long-term solution needs to be found: that of the protection and security of our States and the elimination of the risk to our sovereignty and independence. The growing danger of international mercenaries has increased the vulnerability of small States to external threats. The armed aggression against the Maldives in I.988 is just one example of the alarming proportions this international menace has now assumed. Some may regard the event as insignificant from a global perspective, but we cannot ignore the fact that these international soldiers of fortune have in recent years threatened the peace and stability of many States. The fact is that today international mercenaries are better organised, better financed and better equipped with sophisticated weapons. Unless immediate and firm action is taken against them, they will remain a significant danger to the world in general, Sma11 states are not in a position to sacrifice their hard-earned resources t0 defend themselves against such threats. Their economies are too fragile to allow (President Gayoom) them to divert funds to build up their military capability. Self-help cannot be the only answer. Efforts have to be undertaken by the international community as a whole under the aegis of the United Nations and other international and regional organixations. The United Nations Charter envisages some mechanisms for the protection of the territorial integrity and political' independence of States from external threats, but those mechanisms are far from adequate. United Nations resolution 44/51 on "Protection and security of small States", submitted by the Maldives and adopted at the forty-fourth session of the General Assembly, is indeed a vital step taken in the right direction to remedy the situation. The Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries provides an even greater opportunity to challenge the acts of terrorism and mercenarism. The economic issues that plague the third-world countries today demand urgent attention. Developing countries are caught in a vicious circle of poverty, stagnation, an overpowering debt burden and other negative trends that perpetuate their underdevelopment. Structural handicaps such as poorly diversified economies weighted by a narrow resource ba,se are not the only explanation for the dismal performance of these countries during the past decade. The reduction of the aid flow from the developed countries, which has marred their development efforts, has caused them much disappointment. (President Gavoom) The Substantial New Programme of Action for the 198Os, adopted by the first United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in 1981, called upon the I developed countries to contribute 0.15 per cent of their gross national product for I official donor assistance to the least developed countries. However, only eight of the rich nations reached the target and the average contribution for official development assistance amounted only to 0.9 per cent. The least developed countries has been increasingly marginalized in the world economy and their share 5 in world exports has decreased to a mere 0.3 per cent in 1988 as compared to 1.4 per cent in 1960. The least developed countries' foreign debt has also increased from $35.8 billion in 1982 to $69.3 billion in 1988. The bottom line is that the economic situation of the developing countries has further deteriorated and that the gap between the rich and the poor has further widened during the last decade. It is now obvious that economic repercussions of the Gulf crisis will seriously exacerbate the unfavourable trends in the world economy, which, of course, will be felt more severely by small nations. The Maldives is already experiencing grim economic hardships with the steep rise in oil prices affecting 1 the key industries in our foreign exchange earnings, fisheries and tourism. If the ' crisis remains unsolved, our fragile balance-of-payments situation will be further strained, We strongly suggest that the international community strengthen the i commitment to assist the developing countries in order to revitalize their economies and improve the quality of such assistance by making it better adapted to the real needs of the recipient countries. The elimination or substantial ( reduction of tariffs to guarantee favourable terms of trade, increasing grant aid to help the diversification of their economies, creating a favourable climate for (President Gavoom) more foreign investment and allowing freer resource flow are measures that are urgently required to correct the situation. The message in fact is that it would be impossible for the developing countries alone to reverse the lingering inertia in their economies no matter how well they determine their priorities. It is true that the second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Paris earlier this month, clearly defined five priorities, Among these, however, the development of human resources, the ending of environmental degradation and the strengthening of the diversified productive sector are but some areas in which no significant improvement is possible unless complementary commitments from their development partners can be mobilized, Allow me to draw your attention to another matter of key concern to us, an issue to which I have been resolutely seeking help from the international community. I refer to the predicted global warming and sea-level rise, which may endanger the very survival of my island nation. We are trying to do what we can to combat this potential threat. At the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government held in Kuala Lumpur in October 1989, the Maldives proposed that the Commonwealth make every possible effort to expedite the drafting of the framework convention on environment on which the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) have been collaborating for some time. The initial report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change will be considered at the second World Climate Conference to be held in Geneva from 29 October to 7 November this year, and it is hoped that the final convention will be adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. A Small States Conference on Sea-Level Rise was hosted by the Maldives last yearr and the Male Declaration on' Global Warming and Sea-Level Rise, which was adopted at the Conference, underscored the urgency of the problem and identified many areas of possible international co-operation in this field. As called for in the Ma16 Declaration, an action group has been established to co-ordinate a joint approach on the issues of climate change, global warming and sea-level rise, and to pursue and follow up on global and regional response strategies. !l!he group - comprising representatives from the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions - is scheduled to meet in Ma16 early next year. There is, however, a limit to what the small low-lying States can do. We need international help. In this multipolar world, where interdependency has become a key element, we believe that it is not just the responsibility of the nations threatened by sea-level rise to take preventive measures. We remain convinced that it is also the dut$. of those States whose race for development over many years had contributed to global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain and tropical deforestation to reverse the existing situation. We cannot accept that economic development has to be achieved at the expense of our environment. The Maldives calls upon the industrialized nations to take urgent measures to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and to adopt environmentally compatible technology. We urge them to assist the developing countries to implement similar measures. It is our earnest hope that the world community will heed our voice - that of low-lying States - and save us from the ignominy of becoming environmental refugees. Our children are the most vulnerable sector of our societies to environmental hazards. They are the ones most likely to suffer from the deterioration of our ecosystems. Thousands of children die every year from environment-related diseases such as diarrhoea and upper respiratory disorders. Many more are subjected to air and water pollutants. The effects of environmental changes will affect not just (&&dent Gavoom) the present generation of children but also those as yet unborn. More than 82 per cent of the world's children live in the developing countries. Rapid population growth in these regions will, of course, increase their number in future. They have to be fed, clothed, housed, educated and allowed to grow up in a healthy environment. It is our duty to protect our planet for them and for future generations. The World Summit for Children, the first-ever meeting of its kind, that is to be convened here in three days' time, will, I hope, set the stage for this task. The Maldives is proud to complete 25 years of membership of the United Nations this year. We remain convinced that in spite of the difficulties it faces from time to time, the United Nations is the only force that is capable of effectively dealing with the innumerable challenges and conflicts that threaten the peaceful development of civilisation. We place our sincere trust in this Organisation that its efforts will lead to the achievement of mankind's most cherished dream - peace among nations, races and individuals.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the Republic of Maldives for the important statement he has just made. Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of Maldives, was escorted from the General Assemblv Hall. ADDRESS BY MRS. VIOLETA BARRIOS DE CHAMORRO, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA

The Assembly will now hear an address by the President of the Republic of Nicaragua. Mrs. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, President of the Reoublic of Nicaragua, was escorted into the General Assembly Hall.

On behalf of the General Assembly I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations the President of the Republic of Nicaragua, Her Excellency Mrs. Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, and to invite her to address the Assembly. President BARRIOS de CHAMORRQ (interpretation from Spanish): Forty-five years ago, the United Nations was formed to turn guns into ploughshares. Today, in Nicaragua, we are turning this great dream of the United Nations into a reality. This past 25 February, under United Nations auspices, the Nicaraguan people voted for peace. That day marked a grand moment in our history. After more than a half century of oppression, the Nicaraguan people broke free of their prison of ideologies and dictators. The silent act of thousands of our people in the electoral precincts became a vigorous shout in rejection of violence and in favour of peaceful and civic ways of resolving social conflict and political differences. The Nicaraguan people resoundingly voted for the Government I am honoured to preside over today. They voted to unite us, firmly and for ever, to all other countries which have chosen the path of freedom. The United Nations were guarantors of this election, the first truly free election we have had in 169 years of existence as a republic. I, like many other Nicaraguans of my generation, had for the first time in my life the opportunity to vote freely, In the name of all Nicaraguans, I deeply thank this world forum and all the other international organizations and nations which have supported our desire to be free. (President Barrios de Charnorro) You made it possible for Nicaragua, on 25 February, to enter a new era. In only five months we have achieved peace, culminating with the successful demilitarization and disarmament of the 21,000 members of the Nicaraguan resistance. In less than five months, we have substantially reduced the size of the Nicaraguan armed forces, going from an army of 96,000 members to one of 34,000. we are also achieving the removal of all weapons that have been in civilian hands, burying under concrete over 18,000 rifles which belonged to Political forces. We are pushing hard to conclude negotiations concerning the limitation of military arms and personnel. Nicaragua's success in disarmament has Set an example by destroying weapons such as those 1 today presented to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. We view as a constructive step for all humanity the disarmament agreements which have been reached between the United States and the Soviet Union. But there is something more. Today I should like to proclaim democracy as the heritage of all mankind. None the less, we must be deeply concerned with what it would mean to lose the birth of democracy in Nicaragua, which has already cost so much, because it has been an important step towards peace and stability throughout all of Central America. Were we to lose peace and not consolidate our democracy, we would be erasing one of the great conquests of America. Therefore, from this rostrum, I call upon all democracies the world over to commit themselves to the cause of Nicaraguan democracy. In these five months of our new Government, our people have experienced unprecedented liberty and respect for human rights. In Nicaragua, the people are 1 no longer afraid to live in their homeland. In Nicaragua, they are no longer i, 1 I afraid to work. In Nicaragua, they are no longer afraid of criticizing their i (President Barrios de Chamorro) , Government. There is no longer any fear to produce. Small farmers, manufacturers ,j i 1 and merchants, all are free to buy and sell their products freely in the marketplace. Parents no longer fear for their childrens' lives. In Nicaragua, they no longer fear going to school to study. They no longer fear thinking for themselves. There is no longer any fear for the future. In Nicaragua, there is no ' longer any fear of peace. The people know the words of Pope John Paul II, who said the "new face of peace today is the promotion of development". In the name of all Nicaraguans, I can say today from this global forum that we Nicaraguans have faith in God, faith in freedom, faith in democracy, faith in our homeland, faith in ourselves and faith in all our sister nations which have given us their support and understanding. But there is something of even greater importance. My homeland, Nicaragua, is not only in tune with the democratic currents flowing across the world. It is also the fruit of a new regional movement which the United Nations has actively supported and protected with creativity, I originality and courage. I have the honour of representing my country in a year of special significance in modern history. Nicaragua is firmly committed to maintaining its independence vis-h-vis hegemonic interests. As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, Nicaragua will assume the challenge of transcending ideological barriers which have separated us and removing them. (President Barrios de Chamorro) Nicaragua condemns the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq, and supports the resolutions adopted by this Organization's Security Council. At the same time we welcome the release of Nelson Mandela and support the elimination of racism and apartheid. The reunification of the German people is of great significance to my people and stands as a living example of the success of reconciliation. I dream of a unified Central America. I dream of a demilitarized Central America. I dream of a Central America that lives in freedom. I dream of a Central America engaged in permanent dialogue. I dream of a Central America enjoying progress. We hope that the world will share and continue to support efforts in favour of a democratic Central America, demilitarized and free of any military presence so that one day we can proclaim to the world that Central America is a zone of peace and co-operation. It is time to put an end to violence and armaments and to start working towards the supremacy of civil society over arms. No longer should any Central American have to bow his or her head or lower his dignity in the face of force or dictatorship. We have begun the great revolution of non-violence, the civic and democratic revolution of the vote and of respect for each individual's dignity, freedom and rights. We believe that understanding among nations is the route to international reconciliation. This revolution, which binds Central America together more and more, advances political integration with the establishment of a Central American parliament. We aspire to the formation of a Central American economic community. We have agreed on a common strategy which will permit our economies to participate under competitive conditions in an economic plan of action which is essential to the life of our region. But we cannot restrict ourselves to our own regional sphere. Latin America is '" c the dream of Bolivar, and is the name of our great community. All in America that ~ is great, is the result of unity. Our great revolutions - the political ones for 4 *independence, as well as the cultural ones - have been affected by an awareness of : d unity, which is reborn again today with the triumph of democracy. Only as a regional community will we gain the power to solve such grave common problems as the external debt, and enable our economies to participate in international markets. We are small and we are poor but our ideals give us stature. 1 The national reconciliation we are seeking in Nicaragua, as in ongoing efforts towards reconciliation throughout the world today, has no grander objective than to * strengthen individual rights. The smaller a country the better it understands and feels the value of human rights. In this sense, and in the name of Nicaragua, I proclaim our firm commitment to support the United Nations Decade for International Law. Permit me now to turn from the encouraging prospects for the future to the urgent needs of the present, It has been said, in honour of our gender, that women are the guardian angels of the present. A woman with a child in her arms knows that the future is the present. Without doubt we in Nicaragua have opened our arms to peace and democracy. Today Nicaragua confronts a situation similar to that faced by some countries at the end of the Second World War. We know that our own efforts will be essential and a turning-point in the reactivation of our economy, through an economic and social compact, a process we began on the twentieth of this month among workers, business and government. This is a new style of government in Nicaragua. We recognise and accept our responsibility to realize adjustments and transformations which will make our economies viable. However, this effort must be (President Barrios de Chamorro) complemented by international co-operation, including preferential treatment. We view international co-operation, not as a substitute for our own efforts, but as a necessary additional element to achieve steady development and growing participation in international trade. To support our democracy is to extend the frontiers of liberty and justice in the world. Those who understand that know that Nicaragua's democratization, and its economic recovery, represent a necessary pre-condition for the consolidation of peace throughout the region. I should like to emphasize the following point, which is crucial if my country is to achieve peace and democracy, and that is the need to support the incorporation of thousands of Nicaraguan refugees who have been displaced, or demobilized from the Nicaraguan resistance, and those soldiers affected by the reductions in the army, into the productive process of the nation. Lastly, I wish to refer to the enormous burden which the foreign debt represents for our people. The various initiatives and debt strategies which have been used around the world signify real progress in some cases. We view with optimism President Bush's initiative for the Americas, based on proposals for trade, debt and development, which need to be analysed carefully by our countries. None the less these efforts to date are not enough. It is necessary for the international community to give us greater support with the goal of making our heavy debt burden more bearable. Then our countries will be able to direct their financial resources towards the urgent economic and social necessities they face. I believe that a renegotiation of the debt in concessionary terms for the Central &nerj.can countries must be viewed from a moral perspective, not solely in economic terms but rather as a necessary step.towards resolving the painful development crisis which many of our countries face and which ultimately hurts us (President Barrios de Chamorro) all. Only in this way can we create and bequeath a more just and stable world to the men and women of tomorrow, the children of today - our children, our grandchildren and other children like them - for whom we have to fightr as my late husband, Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, used to say, sometimes to the very death, In this sense we express our firm support of the World Summit for Children, our total conviction that any action by the United Nations today would lack purpose if it did not have the clear desire to achieve for our nations what we want for our children. (President Barrios de Charsorro) Nicaragua has been like a rock, placed by geography and by history at the centre of. the American world. This rock feels the force of all the political and social winds and is lashed by universal trends. All our heroes have fought against empire-builders and invading forces. The destiny of our nationality seems to transcend boundaries. For this reason, if there is a country which stands at one, profoundly at one with this Organization, it is my homeland. Please do not leave us alone.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the Republic of Nicaragua for the statement she has just made. Mrs. Barrios de Chamorro. President of the Reoublic of Nicaracua, was escorted from the General Assembly Hall. ADDRESS BY MR. HUSSAIN MUHAMMAD ERSHAD, PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

The Assembly will now hear an address by the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Mr. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, President of the Peoole's Republic of Banuladesh. was escorted into the General Assemblv Hall.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to welcome to the United Nations the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, His Excellency Mr. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, and to invite him to address the Assembly. President ERSHAD: Mr. President, warm felicitations are due YOU on your well-deserved election. This is not just a testimony to the high esteem in which the Assembly holds you; it is also a reflection of the confidence reposed in Malta by the world community. (President Ershad) Your predecessor, Mr. Joseph Garba, deserves our appreciation. He was firm and disciplined as well as gentle and generous. He performed his task with distinction. He has brought honour to himself and to his country, Nigeria. Tributes are also owed Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar. His relentless quest for peace and his tireless endeavours for development have justly won high praise. The expansion of the United Nations family attests to its credibility. We welcome Liechtenstein in our midst. We look forward to its active participation in our affairs. We meet at a complex time. Tt may not be the end of history, as some believe. On the contrary, we are on the threshold of a new epoch. Euphoria over the end of the cold war must not give way to complacency. Challenges and opportunities are both in prospect. These must be met and seized. The emerging scenario is not unmixed with danger for the weaker and poorer States. Our concern remains paramount that their political. and economic interests be taken into account. We cannot allow them to be compromised by regional hegemonism. Doubtless great-Power rapprochement is a most positive development. We welcome it. But we must remain on guard that this is not perceived as a licence to unleash new disruptive tensions. Heady political and economic transformations are under way in Europe. These carry an immense potential for the good. The resulting peace dividends could be replicated world wide. However, these changes can impinge on the world in yet unknown ways. These could lead resources and investments away from the developing world. These could also result in the creation of large insular economic blocs from which the weak and the poor would be excluded. There are fears that in the new world order terrrorism would be more rampant. (President) It is to be hoped that none of this will happen. We must encourage the positive counter-forces. These have called for openness, not separateness; tolerance of differing values; dialogue divorced from ideology: and co-operation based on consent. The problems of the world require a concerted response. We are becoming increasingly convinced that only the United Nations can fashion this, through co-operative management and collective security. (President Ershad) It is possible that the aspirations of the founding fathers of the United Nations, enshrined in its Charter, will yet be realised. Together, we must work to eliminate the root cause of war, eradicate poverty, tackle indebtedness, reverse environmental degradation, fight drug abuse, and foster social progress. This may seem an ambitious agenda of high aims, but the vigour of our societies can be preserved only through the tireless pursuit of noble goals. Our hopes far a stable decade were shattered by the jolt from the current Gulf crisis. The United Nations has condemned the invasion and annexation of Kuwait. It has called upon Iraq to vacate the annexed territories and to restore the legitimate Government of Kuwait. Bangladesh is steadfastly committed to upholding the United Nations resolutions. We cannot compromise on the vital principles involved, All peace-loving nations have a major stake in preserving the sovereignty, security, political independence and territorial integrity of any State in the international community. These principles are ingrained in our Constitution. We cherish them, and hold them very dear. It was on the basis of these considerations that we sent a contingent of troops to Saudi Arabia, at the kingdom's request. Its role would be purely defensive. Our national Parliament endorsed this decision by a unanimous resolution. This step was considered to be supportive of the cause of peace and stability in the region, and of the broader interests of the Islamic community as a whole. Meanwhile, the world confronts the tormenting trauma of a vast humanitarian problem. Several hundred thousand expatriates, eager to return home, are stranded in the region. Their plight is one of the utmost misery. Bangladesh was among the first countries to urge on the United Nations system the need to activate itself in the repatriation process. This has since been developed into a remarkable triumph of orderly organization by this body. I myself travelled to Turkey and Saudi (President Ershad) Arabia to encourage the process. The neighbouring countries, despite their acute constraints, have rendered unstinted assistance, Our gratitude to them is unbounded. Our tributes extend to the relevant United Nations agencies - in particular, to the United Nations Disaster Relief Organization, the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the International Office of Migration, and the non-governmental organizations. I must make a special mention of the donor countries, which have provided most generous financial assistance. Much more remains to be done. The responsibilities of Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, the Secretary-General's Special Representative, will be onerous. I have no doubt he will discharge them with his usual skill and wisdom. The impact of the crisis on the global economy is great. For the fragile economies of the developing world - in particular, of the least developed countries - the consequences are disastrous. For Bangladesh, these take the form of the cost of repatriation and rehabilitation, loss of remittances, a cut-back in export earnings, the high cost of petroleum and petroleum products, and constriction of development projects. For a least-developed country like Bangladesh this is a problem of immeasurable proportions. Nevertheless, we take solace from the unity and determination of the world Community to act together. The super-Powers are displaying an extraordinary cohesion. We fervently appeal to the fraternal people and Government of Iraq to heed our appeals. They must rescind their illegal annexation and resolve their original differences with Kuwait by peaceful means. Bangladesh stands committed to supporting any move in this direction. In this respect, we would welcome any meaningful initiative by the Islamic Conference and the Muslim community as a whole. The agreement between Iran and Iraq finally to settle their long-standing conflict is a development we joyously welcome. It is our'hope that this will result in a durable settlement that will ultimately pave the way for stability in the region. The task of reconstruction and rehabilitation must now be the sole focus of concentration in the Gulf. This is why the recent events in the area are all the more saddening. With regard to the Middle Eastern region, we are alarmed by Israel's increased intransigence. The prevalent unstable situation is rendered more dangerous by Israel's negative posture on any move to find a just and durable solution to the issue of Palestine. Let me unequivocally declare that Bangladesh's commitment to the Palestinian cause is unflinching. We condemn Israel's provocative action in settling Jewish immigrants in the occupied territories. We consider reprehensible their atrocious repression of the glorious intifadah. Israel's control of the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights clearly rest on force, and must cease. Israel must withdraw from all territories illegally occupied since 1967. The inalienable national rights of the Palestinian people, including a State of their own with Jerusalem as its capital, must be restored. In this connection, we reaffirm our call for the early convening of an international peace conference with the participation of all States, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, on an equal footing. Despite significant advances towards a political solution, the Afghans continue to suffer. Millions of refugees are yet to return home in safety and honour. The continued induction of weaponry into the area and civil strife have retarded the immense task of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Settlement of the problem calls also for a truly representative broad-based Government reflecting the popular will. The Afghan people must determine their own destiny, They must be able to choose their own Government without any outside intervention or interference. We must ensure the preservation of the sovereignty, territorial (President Ershad) integrity and political independence of Afghanistan, and its non-aligned and Islamic character. On Cambodia, we hail the agreement just reached. The Cambodian people have suffered too long, too painfully. We are fully aware, however, that despite this historic step many obstacles remain and must be overcome. Our commitment to a solution does not lie in words alone. From the outset Bangladesh has offered to support the United Nations peace efforts in tangible terms through the contribution of civilian and military personnel. I firmly reiterate this offer today. In our own region - South Asia - the escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India concern us deeply. I urge the leaders of the two countries to exercise maximum restraint. I hope the process of constructive dialogue, recently initiated, can have positive results. Bangladesh remains committed to developing close ties with all our neighbours on the basis of justice, equality, mutual benefit and respect for international law. We have great confidence in the viability of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation. Four consecutive summits have testified to the success of that organization in fulfilling its socio-economic mandate. It has also acted as a harmonizing political force. We look forward to the fifth summit, scheduled to be held in the Maldives in November this year. In divided Cyprus, despite intensification of the search for a solution between the leaders of the Greek and Cypriot communities, an overall settlement has proved elusive. However, possible options for resolution have emerged that could safeguard the legitimate interests and could meet the concerns of both communities. These merit close examination. Our hope is that ultimately they will come to fruition. Similarly, it is our fervent hope that the renewed contacts and recent initiatives between the two Roreas will lead to reconciliation and an acceptable solution. We support the United Nations role in Central America promoting the practical realization of the various agreements reached. In particular, the United Nations efforts in organizing and monitoring the implementation of those agreements deserves praise. We are encouraged by the leadership in the quest for peace provided by the Heads of State and of Government of the region. In Africa too, there is discernible forward movement, of which Western Sahara is an example. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) is actively involved there with United Nations support. Institutionalized co-operation among the Maghreb countries is a hopeful sign that the issue may finally be resolved. Epoch-making changes are also taking place in southern Africa. The independence of Namibia, the release of Nelson Mandela, the lifting of the state of emergency and the promise of reforms by President De Klerk are welcome; yet, the daily blood-letting in that unfortunate land is a painful reminder of South Africa's woes. Anartheid is yet to be dismantled. Our struggle, and the active involvement of the United Nations, must continue until such time as South Africa transforms itself into a democratic, multiracial State. In the world today, no region, no country and no‘ people is too far away, Our hearts go out to the Liberians in their suffering. The world must do more to alleviate their miseries. We must make all efforts to bring about peace in the troubled country. We are heartened by the recent successes in the areas of arms control and disarmament: we would mention the super-Power agreements in particular. However, we must bear in mind that weapons and conflicts feed one another. Guns will proliferate if the need for them exists. Therefore, disarmament cannot truly succeed unless we resolutely alter the current global milieu. Time and again, Bangladesh has stressed its commitment to general and complete disarmament. Peace dividends must be devoted to development. (President Ershad) Our position is evident in our conviction that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is vital to the maintenance of global peace and security. We would call upon the nuclear-weapon States to enter into substantive negotiations for a comprehensive test-ban treaty. Also, they must assure and strengthen positive and also negative security guarantees against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon States. We highlighted our concerns about these issues at the recent Fourth NPT Review Conference. We believe that sufficent groundwork has been laid for our efforts to achieve these fundamental goals before the 1995 review and extension conference. We consider the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones and of zones of peace to be amongst the measures which are integral to a non-proliferation regime. There is also an urgent need to address conventional disarmament. Competition among neighbours in this can have, indeed has had, disastrous consequences. The work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean must resume, with all States concentrate on holding the conference in Colombo as soon as participating. We must possible. Recent events have poignantly demonstrated that the roots of conflict most often lie in economic ,causes. Over past years, there has been growing anxiety about the decline in the course of development. Substantive factors and attitudes combined to aggravate the situation. Mutual accusations and sterile debate between the developed and the developing worlds led to stagnation and even to deterioration in the situation in the latter. The economic and technological gap between the rich and the poor countries widened. Many developing countries tried to follow the prescription for structural adjustment, at great cost and with great hardship. Collapsing commodity price structures, volatile exchange rates, the shrinkage of aid in real terms, growing indebtedness and diminishing purchasing power threaten to suffocate the developing economies. Against this backdrop, we welcome the results of the eighteenth special session of the General Assembly, which forged a new global consensus on ways to promote meaningful co-operation. There are substantial opportunities to spell Out the elements of this consensus in formulating the International Development Strategy for the current decade, to be adopted by the General Assembly this session. The results of the recently held Second United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries will be a key supplementary factor. The outcome of the Conference, though falling short of expectations, was in many ways a success. Here I must commend the very positive role played by President Mitterrand and his great country, France. On the critical issues of increased resource flows, external debt, market access for least-developed-country (LDC) products, and commodity-related questions, some progress was achieved. There must now be all-out efforts, both on the part of the donors and by the LDCs, fully to implement the new plan of action. Given the current turbulence in the international scene and the dire impact on that scene of the Gulf crisis, the development of the LDCs will remain an uphill task. Consequently, focus on their problems must be sharpened. We look forward with keen anticipation to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Bangladesh is actively participating in the preparatory process, which is under way. The Conference must produce results that will assist countries, particularly in the developing world, to meet their obligations. We hope the proposed conventions on climate change and on the protection of biodiversity will soon be ready for signature. A mainstay of the consolidation of global peace, development and security is the effort to strengthen the rule of international law. I attach special significance, therefore, to the proclamation of the 1990s as United Nations Decade of International Law. Priority must be accorded to strengthening the world (President Ershad) law-of-the-sea order, the completion of provisions governing non-navigational uses of international watercourses, and to formulating a legal regime for the environment. Of paramount importance, in the final analysis, is the enhancement of human worth. The rules that constitute the corpus of human rights must be given meaningful definitions. Human rights are inseparably enmeshed with the right to development. Today, a billion people barely survive on the margin of existence. They cannot be, must not be, denied their most basic, most fundamental right, the right to a decent life. We must ensure that right in this, the last decade of this present millenium. Their journey into the next century must be led by a beacon of hope. In this, the United Nations can, and indeed must, be of assistance. In this forum, let us adopt some resolutions unanimously. Let us resolve to face the future together, in friendship and fraternity. Let us harmonize the dictates of individual national interests with those of global needs. Let us balance the imperatives of self-reliance with those of collective endeavour. Let us strengthen global security so as to face together the dangers that may imperil us. Let us work together in earnest to resolve our differences, so that these in the end do not defeat us. This is our common dream. It is also one that, should we so desire, can be turned into a reality.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh for the important statement he has just made. Mr. Hussain Muhammad Ershad, President of the People's Revublic of Bangladesh, Wasescorted OF KUWAIT

The Assembly will now hear an address by the Amir of the d State of Kuwait. ,I Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, was escorted into the General Assembly Hall. i

On behalf of the General Assembly, I have the honour to I welcome to the United Nations the Amir of the State of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and to invite him to address the Assembly. 1 Sheikh AL-SABAH (interpretation from Arabic): In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. As muslims, we always begin everything by invoking the name of God, our Lord, and in praising the Lord we seek to draw closer to Him, Whom we praise even in times of distress. I offer you, Mr. President, in my own name and on behalf of the people of Kuwait, sincere congratulations on your election as President of the forty-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly. You represent, Sir, a friendly country that has very close ties with Kuwait. Both our countries, as well as all other States, draw strength and effectiveness from the principles of justice and international law. We are confident, Mr. President, that under your stewardship, - the Assembly will be able to fulfil the aspirations of the international community at this point in time against an extremely complex international backdrop. I wish also to take this opportunity to pay a tribute to your predecessor, Ambassador Garba, for the skill and prudence he demonstrated in addressing the concerns of the world community. In the same vein, special thanks and gratitude go to the Secretary-General, Mr. Javier P&ez de Cuellar, for his persistent and outstanding efforts in the interest of international peace and security as well as his keen interest in (Sheikh Al-Sabah) enhancing the role and effectiveness of the world Organisation with a view to attaining the noble goals set by the founding fathers. Since Liechtenstein has now joined the United Nations, it is our pleasure to extend a warm welcome to the new Member and to wish its friendly people every success in their new status. We trust that Liechtenstein's presence here will promote multilateralism in all its aspects. I speak from this rostrum today as my peaceful country is passing through extremely harsh circumstances that have given rise to an unprecedented crisis in the history of the United Nations, which, since its inception, has sought to uphold justice on the basis of international law. Indeed, the Security Council has demonstrated that role by recently adopting a series of firm resolutions in the face of naked and brutal aggression against the State Of Kuwait. There is no doubt that the key role played by the Security Council is indeed a propitious one under the prevailing grave circumstances in Kuwait and, in fact, in the world at large. It is our earnest hope that this role will continue to grow without waning and gain momentum without setbacks in order to consolidate the rule of international law. Today, I bring to you the message of a peace-loving nation, a nation that has consistently worked for peace, a nation that reached out with a helping hand to all those who truly needed help, a nation that sought mediation and reconciliation among adversaries. It is this very nation whose security and stability have been trampled upon as a result of its abiding belief in the lofty principles inspired by our true Muslim faith and echoed in universal charters, pacts and codes of morality. Today, I plead before you the cause of a people whose land, until so recently, was a beacon for peaceful co-existence and genuine brotherhood among the family of nations, a people whose national territory was a gathering place for individuals from various peaceful nations who sought a decent and dignified life through constructive work. Some of these people have now been made homeless, wanderers living only on hope in their banishement, while others have become prisoners or fighters refusing, even at the risk of their own lives, to surrender or yield to occupation regardless of its violence and brutality. The crisis of Kuwait is a manifbld tragedy, whose dire consequences affect not only Kuwaitis, but also other peoples. In fact, it has jeopardised stability in the world, especially in the Gulf region. And SOI I come to this forum, which is the helm of international action, in order to acknowledge the overwhelming global solidarity that has been shown to us in a multitude of Security Council resolutions that have been passed in an unprecedented fashion. This demonstrates rock-solid international rejection of the (Sheikh Al-Sabah) assassination of the norms of international law, rules of good neighbourly relations and established customs and practices by armed military invaders, whose tanks rolled over and crushed all those concepts. Indeed, this is what makes the Iraqi aggression against the State of Kuwait quite a peculiar case, for we have never seen in contemporary, post-Second World War history a country that overran a sovereign independent State, a member of the United Nations, and then sought not only to annex it by brutal force, but also to erase its name and entire entity from the world political map and wipe out the parameters of its national identity as defined by its institutions and its political, economic and social structures. All of this has taken place as we approach the end of the twentieth century! I came here to tell you of the horrors and suffering we are enduring both inside and outside our occupied homeland, and to put before you our just case. Now, the fate of a people, of a nation, is in your hands. Expecting you to act in good conscience, we are confident that the only measure that will win your endorsement is support for our legitimate right to liberate our land. Furthermore, we trust that you will not waver in deciding on the measures needed to compel the invading aggressors to restore the legitimate authority and to put an end to their barbaric acts and deviations. The aggression by the Iraqi regime against the State of Kuwait, which resulted in occupation, and the vicious Iraqi attempts to annex Kuwait in flagrant violation of all charters, norms of conduct and treaties, including those legal instruments concluded between the two countries and deposited right here with the United Nations, is not an ordinary conflict between two States over a piece of land. Rather, the Iraqi aggression was the culmination of a pre-meditated scheme to occupy and seize the entire State by force of arms. This aggression, alas, was perpetrated by a country with which we had several internationally recognized treaties and agreements within 'the frameworks of the League of Arab States, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the United Nations and other international organizations. This Iraqi regime has invented false pretexts and untenable claims against my peaceful and peace-loving country. In response to them, and despite our firm conviction that those claims were totally unfounded, we proposed the setting up of a mutually acceptable, neutral Arab arbitration panel, to which both parties would submit their differences. However, Iraq turned down that offer out of hand. Our last attempt at a peaceful resolution of our problems with Iraq was the bilateral round of talks in Jeddah, in our sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the course of which Kuwait stressed the need to resolve its outstanding problems with Iraq within an Arab context. But Iraq's plans were not anchored in any legal framework or based on any formal legal instruments. In fact, Iraq was bent on sweeping through the entire territory of Kuwait, violating its sovereignty and violating the sanctity of Kuwaiti citizens' lives and property. As a consequence, rape, destruction, terror and torture are now the rule of the day in the once peaceful and tranquil land of Kuwait. Hundreds of thousands of Kuwaiti citizens, along with the nationals of various other countries who were our guests, have been made homeless and many of them have had their life savings robbed. Hundreds have lost their lives. Others have been held hostage. Indeed, at this very moment, an intense campaign of terror, torture and humiliation continues unabated in that dear land. We receive daily reports of massacres and continuing systematic armed looting and destruction of State assets and individual property. This has prompted the forces of right, justice and peace in the world to try to acquaint themselves with the calamity of those innocents. In accordance with its responsibilities derived from the fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 relative to (Sheikh Al-Sabah) the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, the International Committee of the Red Cross has attempted to dispatch a team that would have reported on their conditions. But the aggressor, persisting in its inhumane conduct, declined to allow this international committee to send representatives to Kuwait in order to carry out their tasks. It also refused to let envoys of the Secretary-General of the United Nations visit Kuwait to verify the conditions of its population. Such conduct constitutes yet another violation by the aggressor of international and humanitarian covenants, thus demanding a resolute stand against it. + Against all these odds, an enormous source of solace to us has been the position taken by virtually all the countries of the world in support of Kuwait's rights. Hence, the League of Arab States, the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Islamic countries and the Security Council of the United Nations all took appropriate decisions condemning the Iraqi aggression and calling for the annulment of the annexation act and the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the invading Iraqi forces to the border that existed prior to the aggression. Thus, the legitimate Government of Kuwait would be able to exercise its functions and responsibilities as it used to before' the invasion. It is with a deep sense of pride and honour that we hail the stand taken by the proud people of Kuwait in defence of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of their State against the usurper, whose forces are armed to the teeth with weapons of destruction. (Sheikh Al-Sabah) Two years have now elapsed since I took an initiative from this rostrum B calling for the cancellation of foreign debts under the burden of which numerous countries suffer enormously. In point of fact, those countries have fallen victim to a host of factors that not only thwarted any prospect for their economic t prosperity but also generated mounting pressure on them. Though some measure of progress has indeed been made in this area, the magnitude and scope of the problem ,continue to pose a grave threat to the lives of millions of human beings, a threat i that in all likelihood may undermine world peace and stability. The long-standing academic argument that economic stability and political stability are closely interlinked is perhaps as valid and timely now as it has ever been. Along these lines, it would be advisable for us all to review the conclusions of the United Nations-sponsored Conference on the Problems of the Least Developed Countries, held in Paris earlier this month, in order to appreciate better the weight of the problem and the urgency it has assumed with a view to making tangible headway towards an effective remedy in the interest of all mankind. In this spirit, Kuwait, for its part, has decided, in line with our previous proposal regarding this issue, to write off all interests on its loans. In addition, Kuwait will consider with the poorest nations arrangements regarding the principal of its loans with a view to easing the burden of their debts. From the early years of independence, my country has been privileged to be in the forefront of States that gave development aid to other countries. Kuwait's contributions represent the highest rate in the world in terms of gross national product, amounting to 8.3 per cent of its gross national product. This highlights Kuwait's genuine desire to contribute towards raising the standard of living in the developing nations. It also proves that Kuwait has been a leader in the efforts to improve the economic infrastructure of other countries. (Sheikh Al-Sabah) The devastating consequences of the aggression against Kuwait and its civilian population, with its repercussions on the stability and security of the entire Gulf region, together with its ripple effects on world stability, as we have clearly seen, have been far-reaching indeed. They have already had adverse effects on long-standing crucial issues we had always hoped the world community would eventually resolve satisfactorily. I have in mind the problem of the Palestinian people and the tragedy of the occupation of the southern part of our sister State, Lebanon. The State of Kuwait will remain, as always, faithful to its principles, true to its system of values, close to its friends and faithful of its obligations and commitments. In closing, may I take this opportunity to address a few words to my people, my kinsfolk, the loyal sons and daughters of Kuwait, from this forum, a forum for justice and fairness, a forum for guidance and hope, to assure each and every one of them that Allah, the Almighty, will ultimately secure triumph for us, thanks to their struggle and resolve, thanks to the gracious role of the United Nations, thanks to the support lent to us by our brethren and friends along with all people of good conscience throughout the world. The withdrawal of the invaders is, God willing, undoubtedly imminent. We shall return to our Kuwait, the oasis of safety and peace, which embraces all Kuwaitis and foreigners living in our midst as brothers. Together, we shall join hands in concert and harmony to secure our (Sheikh Al-Sabah) development and progress. This will be a fulfilment of God's promise as rendered in the following verse: "0 ye who believe! If ye will aid (The cause of) Allah, He will aid you, And plant your feet firmly." (The Holv Koran. XLVII:7) And whose word can be truer than Allah's? Thank you and may Allah, our Lord, bring you all peace and grace.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I wish to thank the Arnir of the State of Kuwait for the statement he has just made. Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait, was escorted from the General Assemblv Hall.